Trapattoni set for quick recovery

Republic of Ireland team doctor Alan Byrne has confirmed manager Giovanni Trapattoni will be fit to take charge for next month's European Championship qualifiers.

Trapattoni watched his side's 1-0 friendly defeat to Argentina at the Aviva Stadium from his hospital bed after undergoing minor abdominal surgery earlier on Wednesday. Byrne reaffirmed the operation, a short procedure performed at 3pm at Dublin's Mater Hospital, had been a complete success.

"Very soon afterwards Giovanni was speaking to Marco (Tardelli, his assistant). He will be expected to remain in hospital over the weekend. The problem is fully resolved. His general health will help him make a quick recovery, no question about that," said Byrne.

"On a personal level, and on behalf of the FAI, we would like to thank the doctor who performed the operation and all the staff at the hospital who have been superb from the time he went in up to now."

Tardelli denied his players had showed Argentina too much respect in the opening half in which Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game in the 20th minute.

"Argentina are a very good technical team and it is not easy to play against them," said Tardelli.

"In the first half after all the ceremony (with captain Robbie Keane honoured on the occasion of his 100th cap) I feel we lost concentration.

"I was very disappointed, although the young players played very well, but in the second we created problems for Argentina.